🪔 Flowers, lamps and prayers mark 40 years since Verugal massacre
The 40th anniversary of the Verugal massacre was commemorated at the Poongar Thaan Thoontreeswarar Temple in Eechchilampattu, Trincomalee District, on Friday, with relatives, civil society activists and residents gathering to remember the 21 people killed while transporting food supplies to displaced Tamil families in 1986.
The remembrance included collective prayers, floral tributes, the lighting of lamps and candles, and a minute’s silence for the victims.
The massacre took place on 12 June 1986, during a period of intense violence across the North-East.
At the time, displaced residents from the Verugal divisional area had taken refuge in camps in Eechchilampattu, Poomarathadichenai and Maavadichenai. Relief supplies for the camps were being distributed through the Seruvila Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society.
Three government officials and a group of civilians travelled from Seruvila after collecting supplies for displaced families. While returning to Eechchilampattu, they were intercepted at Mahindapura by armed individuals.
The victims were reportedly taken about 50 metres off the main road, forced to kneel, and then hacked and shot dead.
Twenty-one people, including three government officials, were killed.